Real Madrid are going to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League this afternoon with four key players unavailable. Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, and Marcelo are all going to miss the match due to injury, according the Guardian columnist Sid Lowe.
Confirmed that Benzema is out tomorrow, along with Bale and Modric, plus Marcelo injured. (Carvajal does play: no action was taken)
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) April 21, 2015
Real Madrid have yet to beat their crosstown rivals in the 2014/15 campaign, a stretch of seven matches in which Real has lost four and drawn three.
Despite the seemingly dire situation, Real manager Carlo Ancelotti showed confidence in the face of missing four first choice starters.
"We are missing important players, but that does not change what we have to do on the pitch," Ancelotti said. "The solution will be to put in players who are motivated, fit, fresh and are going to try and help the team.”
“The system does not change. I have the best squad, in my opinion, in the world. So it is important not to think about who will not play, but be focused on those who will play. For this reason I have a lot of confidence in my players."
Real Madrid takes on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at 2:45 EST.